22 Sep 2009

Bhutan earthquake kills 10

10:53 am on 22 September 2009

Rescuers in Bhutan are searching for survivors in the rubble of monasteries and homes after a strong earthquake hit the Himalayan mountain kingdom.

At least 10 people have been killed in the 6.1 quake, which also caused panic in the city of Guwahati, the capital of India's north-eastern state of Assam.

Seven of the people who died are said to have been in buildings that collapsed in two regions east of the capital, Thimpu. Three others were hit by falling boulders.

Officials say monasteries and other buildings have been damaged and power and telecommunications networks disrupted.

The United States Geological Survey says the epicentre was just inside Bhutan's border with India. There have a number of aftershakes since the main tremor, which was felt as far away as Bangladesh and Tibet.